Building structure



Aug. 3, 1937. F. M. vENzlE- 2,089,045

.BUILDING STRUCTURE Original Filed Nov. 3, 1930 2 Sheets-Shet l ATTORNEY.Aug. 3, 1937.

F,-M. vENzlE undnpmfA STRUCTURE original Filed Nov. s, 19:50 2sheets-sheet 2 @n m T .T A

IN V EN TOR:

Patented Aug. 3, 1937 STATES tai are

orties BUILDING STRUCTURE Application November 3, 1930, Serial No.492,899 Renewed April 6, 1933 22 Claims.

This invention, generally stated, relates toa building structure and hasmore especial relation to cementitious slabs forming a ceilingconstructilgn as supported by a floor of concrete or the li e.

The leading object of the present invention may be said to reside in theprovision of means whereby unskilled labor may more readily andeiciently erect cementitious ceiling slab-s to reduce building costs.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision ofceiling slabs of cementitious material provided with hook-likesuspension devices whereby the slabs may be quickly and easily suspendedfrom plasterers channels.

A further object of the present invention is to provide cementitiousceiling slabs of the character stated in which the hook-like suspensionelements have hinged relation with respect to the slabs, whereby thehook-like elements may be moved to inoperative position so as to becapable of assuming a horizontal, relatively flat-like position tofacilitate the storage, packing, and shipping of the slabs by themanufacturer.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a slabstructure of the character stated which is entirely constructed offire-proofing material, is sound proof, very strong and very cheap toerect, and in which metallic, hooklike suspension elements are providedfor the suspension of the slabstructure from auxiliary plastererschannels as supported by main plasterers channels, which in turn aresuspended from floor beams, or floor itself.

Other and further objects of the present invention reside in theprovision of the general arrangement, combination, and connection ofparts for attaining the results sought by the foregoing objects.

The invention consists of the novel construction hereinafter describedand nally claimed.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will bemore fully understood from the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings. forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary View partly in longitudinal section of a ceilingconstruction embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View in plan of the ceiling slab shown at theextreme left hand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top or plan View of a ceiling slab equipped with suspensionhooks differing slightly from those disclosed in Figs. 1 and2;

(ci. vz-ns) Fig. 4 is a View in side elevation of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of a slab equipped with still another formof suspension hooks;

Fig. 6 is a View in side elevation of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 'l is a View in perspective of a channel support.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in theaccompanying drawings several forms thereof which are at presentpreferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to givesatisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood thatthe various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can bevariously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited tothe precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities asherein shown and described.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral I0designates a ooring usually of concrete o-r the like, preferablyreinforced as at II. A flooring of this character is usually supportedby licor beams designated I2. Supported by the beams I2 are plastererschannels i3, the latter being attached to the floor beams I2 by means ofhangers Ill which may be of any preferred design. The plastererschannelsl S3 in turn support auxiliary plasterers channels i5 which arearranged at right angles to the main plasterers channels I3 and aresupported by means of hangers I5 which may be of any desired design.Below the auxiliary plasterers channels I5 are arranged the ceilingslabs designated I6 and which are of cementitious or other fire-proofingmaterial. These ceiling slabs are suspended from the auxiliaryplasterers channels I5 by means of hook-likemernbers of which severalforms are disclosed in the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, aceiling slab I6 is provided at opposite ends with spaced removablehooks. These hooks are of metal and preferably forrned from a singlepiece of wire, each hook comprising an elongated, vertically disposedstem il, the lower end of which is bent at right angles to the stem toprovide a foot I3, and the upper end of the stem Il is bent overhorizontally at right angles to the stem and in a direction opposite tothe foot I8 to provide a hook I9 for engaging over an auxiliaryplasterers channel l5. The foot I8 of the hook is adapted for removableinsertion in horizontally arranged tubing 2l) of metal which is embeddedin each ceiling slab I6 and spaced apart, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.Each end of a slab I 6 is cut away laterally to provide a ledge 2I, the

upper surface of which is substantially flush with the tubing 28 and themarginal surfaces of which abut similar surfaces on adjacent slabs, asclearly shown in Fig. 1. In practice with a foot of the hook positionedwithin the tubing the hook may be moved aboutl the horizontal axis of afoot, whereby the hook may be moved from horizontal position to verticalposition to engage an auxiliary plasterers channel I5. This provideswhat may be termed a pivotally disposed hookike suspension element whichmay be moved to flatwise position with respect to a ledge 2|, wherebythe manufacturer may more readily pack, store, and ship the slabs I6. Asclearly shown in Fig. 1, the hooks of adjacent slabs I6 are sopositioned that they may engage over an auxiliary plasterers channel I5in opposite directions.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the side walls of opposite ends of theslabs I6 are cut away to provide hook-accommodating,recesses. Each ofthese hooks is also formed of one piece of wire and comprises anelongated, laterally disposed portion 22 which extends entirely througha slab I5 and projects into the opposed cut-away portions 23, at whichpoint the said portion 22 is bent at an angle to provide arms 24terminating in hooks 25. These hooks 25 in inoperative position areaccommodated by the recesses 26 of the cut-away portions 23, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 4. These hooks 25 are adapted to engage over thetops of auxiliary plasterers channels |5 in the suspension of the tiles.Thus, for packing, storage, and shipping purposes the hook-like membersare moved to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 4, and forerection purposes are moved to the position shown by dotted lines inFig. 4.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, a ceiling tile I6 has embedded therein areinforcing member usually wire, the parts 21 of which parallel thesides of a tile and the parts 2B of which parallel the end walls of atile, the entire reinforcement constituting a generally rectangularshaped element. It is to be noted in this respect that the parts 28 ofthe reinforce element are arranged immediately above the slottedportions 29 with each end of a tile to reinforce a tile structure at itsends. The slots 29 are flush with the tops of the ledges 2|, see Fig. 5.These slots 29 in conjunction with the ledges 2| provide means for theremovable reception `of hooks shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6. Thesehooks are similar in all respects to those hooks shown in Fig. l and thesame reference numerals have been applied thereto. It will be understoodthat these hooks for packing, storage, and shipping of the slabs may beeither entirely removed with respect to the slots 29, or may bepositioned upon the tops of the ledges 2| to assume a fiat-wiseposition. It will be readily understood that in positioning the slabsthe workman has simply to introduce the foot of a hook with respect to aslot 29 and thereafter move the hook about the horizontal axis of thefoot portion thereof so that the stem I1 is positioned vertically,whereby the hook I9 may be caused to engage over an auxiliary plastererschannel I5.

In practice the ledges of adjacent slabs abut endwise, so that a spaceis present between said slabs to accommodate the stems of the hooks asshown in Figs. 1 and 6, in which case the stems to abut against thevertical cut-awayportions of the slabs, thus tending to prevent endwiseor swaying movement of the slabs when-the hooks engage over theplasterers channels. In Figs. 3 and 4 the stems of the hooks abutagainst the cut-away vertical portions of the slabs and tend to steadythe slabs both laterally and longitudinally considered in suspendedposition.

While the main plasterers channels I3 are shown as being supported fromfloor beams I2, it is to be understood that I have in mind supportingthe channels directly from the flooring by means of suitable hangerswhen found conven ient so lto do. Also, while I may employ anyconvenient form of auxiliary channel hanger I prefer to use the typebest seen in Fig. 7. This one piece Wire hanger I 5 is provided with aflattened cross-arm I5 so that a snug i'lt may be obtained for thechannel iron I5, thereby to permit lthe ceiling slabs I6 to abut againstthe undersides of said channels I5 which is desirable. In using thesehangers the ends are first placed over the channels |3 and then clinchedover the same by means of a hammer to bring the tops of the auxiliarychannels I5 close up under the bottoms of the main channels I3.

What I claim is:

l. In a building construction, a floor of cementitious materialsupported upon beams, main plasterers channels suspended from saidbeams, auxiliary plasterers channels arranged at right angles to saidmain plasterers channels, and suspended therefrom, ceiling slabs ofcementitious material arranged below and suspended from said auxiliaryplasterers channels by means of hooks the end of each slab having alaterally disposed portion for endwise abutting against an adjacentslab, and a plurality of hooks pivotally connected to each slab, eachhook being movable about its horizontal axis arranged adjacent each endof a slab, the pivot points of said hooks being arranged in a planeabove said portion of a slab adapted for said endwise abutment.

2. In a building construction, a floor of cementitious materialsupported upon beams, main plasterers channels suspended from saidbeams, auxiliary plasterers channels arranged at right angles to saidmain plasterers channels and suspended therefrom, ceiling slabs ofcementitious material arranged below and suspended from said auxiliaryplasterers channels by means of hooks the end of each slab having alaterally disposed ledge portion for endwise abutting against anadjacent slab, and a plurality of hooks pivotally connected to eachslab, each hook being movable about its horizontal axis arrangedadjacent each end of a slab, the pivot points of said hooks beingarranged in a plane above said ledge portion of a slab adapted for saidendwise abutment.

3. In a building construction a floor of cementitious material supportedupon beams, main plasterers channels suspended from said beams,auxiliary plasterers channels arranged at right angles to said mainplasterers channels and suspended therefrom, ceiling slabs ofcementitious material arranged below and suspended from said auxiliaryplasterers channels by means of detachable hooks, the end of each slabhaving a laterally disposed portion for endwise abutting against anadjacent slab, and a plurality of hooks pivotally connected to each slabeach hook being movable about its horizontal axis, arranged adjacenteach end of a slab, the pivot points of said hooks being arranged in aplane above said portion of a slab adapted for said endwise abutment.

4. In a building construction a. oor of cementitious material supportedupon beams, main plasterers channels suspended from said beams,auxiliary plasterers channels arranged at right angles to -said mainplasterers channels and suspended therefrom, ceiling slabs ofcementitious material arranged below and suspended from said auxiliaryplasterers channels by means of hooks, the end of each slab having alaterally disposed portion for endwise abutting against an adjacentslab, and a plurality of hooks pivotally connected to each slab, eachhook being movable about its horizontal axis arranged adjacent each endof a slab, the pivotl points of said hooks being arranged in a planeabove said portion of a slab adapted for said endwise abutment, each ofsaid hooks being arranged to lie in a plane below the upper face of aslab when said hooks are in inoperative position.

5. In a building construction, a floor of cementitious materialsupported upon beams, main plasterers channels suspended from saidbeams, auxiliary plasterers channels arranged at right angles to saidmain plasterers channels and suspended therefrom, ceiling slabs ofcementitious material arranged below and suspended from said auxiliaryplasterers channels by means of hooks, the end of each slab having alaterally disposed ledge portion for endwise abutting against anadjacent slab, a plurality of hooks pivotally connected to each slab,each hook being movable about its horizontal axis arranged adjacent eachend of a slab, the pivot points of said hooks being arranged in a planeabove said ledge portion of a slab adapted for said endwise abutment,and means embedded Within a slab substantially in parallelism with saidledge portions for reinforcement of said ledge portions, the lateralportion of said means having longitudinal extensions.

6. In a building construction, a floor of cementit-ious materialsupported upon beams, main plasterers channels suspended from saidbeams, auxiliary plasterers channels arranged at right angles to saidmain plasterers channels and suspended therefrom, ceiling slabs ofcementitious material arranged below and suspended from said auxiliaryplasterers channels by means of hooks, the end of each slab having alaterally disposed portion for endwise abutting against an adjacentslab, and a plurality ol hooks pivotally connected to each slab, eachhook being movable about its horizontal axis arranged adjacent each endof a slab, the pivot points of said hooks being arranged in a planeabove said portion of a slab adapted for said endwise abutment, andsockets embedded in a slab at each end thereof to receive the lower endsof said hooks.

7. In a building construction, a floor of cementitious material, mainplasterers channels suspended from said floor, auxiliary plastererschannels arranged at right angles to said main plasterers channels, andsuspended therefrom, ceiling slabs of cementitious material arrangedbelow and suspended from said auxiliary plasterers channels by means ofhooks, the end of each slab having a laterally disposed portion forendwise abutting against an adjacent slab, and a plurality of hookspivotally connected to each slab, each hook being movable about itshorizontal axis arranged adjacent each end of a slab, the pivot pointsof said hooks being arranged in a plane above said portion of a slabadapted for said endwise abutment.

8. In a building construction, a floor of cementitious materialsupported upon beams, main plasterers channels suspended from saidbeams, auxiliary plasterers channels arranged at right angles to saidmain plasterers channels and suspended therefrom, ceiling slabs ofcementitious material arranged below and suspended from said auxiliaryplasterers channels by means of hooks, the end of each slab having alaterally disposed portion for endwise abutting against an adjacentslab, and a plurality of hooks pivotally connected to each slab, eachhook being movable about its horizontal axis arranged adjacent each endof a slab, the pivot points of said hooks being arranged in a planeabove said portion of a slab adapted for said endwise abutment, eachhook being formed from a single piece of wire and having its pivotal endembedded in a slab.

9; In a building construction, a finished floor, a support beneath saidfloor, surfacing units, and hook forming means pivoted within said unitsfor movement about a horizontal axis, for connecting said units to saidsupport after the completion of said floor.

10. In a building construction, a plurality of abutting surfacing units,a support parallel to the line of abutment of said units, and hooksincluding foot portions removably pivoted to said units for movementabout a horizontal axis within the edges of said unit and engaging saidsupport.

1l. In a building construction a iioor; supporting means for said floor;a surfacing unit; means for supporting said surfacing unit; means forconnecting said last named means to said floor supporting means; andhooks removably and pivotally connected to said surfacing unit forconnecting said unit to its support.

l2. In a building construction a oor; supporting means for said floor; asurfacing unit; means for supporting said surfacing unit; means forconnecting said last named means to said floor supporting means; andmeans removably pivoted to said surfacing unit for movement about ahorizontal axis for connecting said unit to its support.

13. In a building construction, a support, fireproof cementitious slabs,a re-enforcement within each of said slabs; and members adapted to hangsaid units from said support and pivotaliy engaging said units beneathand out of contact with said re-enforcement.

14. In a building construction a support; a reproof slab positioned withits uppermost surface below the lowest portion of said support; atubular passageway in said slab and means engaging the walls of saidpassageway and said support for connecting said slab to said support.

l5. In a building construction a support; a reproof slab positioned withits uppermost surface below the lowest portion of said support; are-enforced tubular passageway in said slab; and means engaging thewalls of said passageway and said support for connecting said slab tosaid support.

16. In a building construction a support; a fireproof slab positionedwith its uppermost surface below the lowest portion of said support; atubular passageway in said slab; and means removably engaging the wallsof said passageway and said support for connecting said slab to saidsupport.

17. In a building construction, a support; a multiplicity of fireproofsurfacing units depending from said support; and hooks, operable frombeneath said support and connected to said units for movement about ahorizontal axis, for connecting said units to said support.

18.f In a building construction, a support;` a multiplicity offlreproofv surfacing units depending from said support; and hooks,operable from beneath said support and connectedto said units formovement about a. horizontal axis at a right angle tothe longitudinalaxis of said support,v for connecting said units to-said support.

19. In a building construction, a support; a multiplicity of reproofsurfacing units,` depending from said support; and hooks, operable frombeneath said support and connected to said units for movement about anaxis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said support, for connectingsaid units to said support.

20. In a building construction, a support; a multiplicity of reproofsurfacing units depending from said support; and` hooks, operable frombeneath said support and connected to said units for movement about ahorizontal axis for connecting said units. to said support, said hooksbeing detachable from. said unit when inoperative.

21. In a building construction, a support; a multiplicity of reproofsurfacing units depending from said support; and hooks, operable frombeneath said support and connected to said units for movement about ahorizontal axis for connecting saidV units thereto, said hooks lyingwithin the planes defining the major surfaces and edges of said, unitswhen inoperative.

`22. In a building construction, a plurality of abutting surfacingunits, a support parallel vto the line of abutment of said units, andhooks including means pivoted to said units for movement about ahorizontal axis within the edges of each of said units and engaging saidsupport.

FREDERICK M. VENZIE.

